Bird
Black Woodpecker
Dryocopus martiusThe Black Woodpecker is an exceptionally large, mostly black woodpecker with a red crown patch and powerful pale bill. It excavates deep holes in trunks and fallen wood for carpenter ants, leaving cavities later used by many forest animals.
Large WoodpeckerCavity ExcavatorMature Forest
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCarpenter ants, Beetle larvae, Other insects
Predators
- Northern Goshawks
- Eagle-owls
- Martens
ThreatsRemoval of old trees and snags, forest fragmentation, disturbance at cavities, and intensive logging
HabitatsMature conifer, beech, mixed, and old-growth forest with large trees and abundant deadwood
Life spanOften more than a decade; some wild individuals can approach 20 years
Classification
- FamilyPicidae
- SpeciesDryocopus martius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Leave nest trees, feeding excavations, and deadwood untouched throughout the year.
Responsible observation
- Size: Expect a crow-sized woodpecker with an entirely dark body.
- Sound: Listen for a far-carrying ringing call and powerful drumming.
- Distance: Watch cavity visits from well back without blocking the flight path.
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